Platform scale



July 7, 1925.

F. E. CHURCH f PLATFORM SC ALE Original Filed June 19, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Frank MAJ.

ATTORNEY l INVENTOR Hank E. Uhuroh BY ATTORNEY wvl/aw w 4 M s* n l e h l HMH CAe. Rw@ wM,J d Ce Fn EMF l FPa n III uw ma N July 7, 1925.

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Patented July 7, 1925.

Urn-iran STATES PA TENT OFFICE..

manna. CHURCH, Orf s'r. .ronlsrsaatrmav vnnmom. AssmNOa, 'ro n AND T. FAIR- nANxs AND. COMPANY, or sr. lonnsnony, VERMONT, a CORPORATION or VEB,-

MONT.

PLATFORM SCALE.

Original application filed: June 19, 1923; Serial No. 646,289.. Divided@ and this To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that If, FRANK E; @Honorine citizen of the United? States of America, residing at. St. Johnsbury, in the county' of. Caledonia and: State' of Vermont, have invented:y certainI new and. usefulf Improvements in Platform Scales', of which the following'is a full', clear, and exact descrip.- tion, such'` as will enable others skilled; ini the art to which it appel-bains t'o. make and use4 the same.

In: my prior application filed' June 19, 1923Serial No. 646,289, I@ showed, described? and claimed a portable platform scaleem.- bodyi-ng severall new features of construc-y tion. The United States Patent Office has required a division of suoli application, and

accordingly thepresent application isy filed.

This invention relates to improvements in weighing scales, anch more especially in some of its details to improvements` in portable plat-formi scales.

It is a general object of thel inventionl to provide an improved scaleof theclassmen.- tioned; in which simplicity: of construction, interchangeability of parts', ease of repair or replacement of parts, and economies in production cost are attained;

Another object Of the invention isthe provision of an improved scale in which refinement in constructionl is employed, ref sulti ng in enduring accuracy, and` in; which accuracy in operation is; undisturbed by a slight disalignment ofparte',y eitherv due to structural or assembling inaccuracies, or as a result of severe usage oraccident.

A further object of the invention is to providean improved pivotv bearingv for scales of simple and durable construction.

Still anotherobject is to improveand: perfect the elements, andf assembly of elements in a scale, resultingin production and oper'- ating advantages.

Other objects' Will bein part Obvious in connect-'ion With the following detailed. description ofl an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and will be in part. pointed out in connection therewith'.

The invention accordingly comprises. the features of construction, combination of elements, andi arrangement of parts, which Will1 be exemplified in. thexconstruction here.,`

inafter'set forthg andfthefscopeolfthe appli:F cationy of. whichr will be indica/ted in the' claims.

For a complete understanding of the'na ture and objects of. the invention,I reference is' hadA to: the followingA detailed description and to ther accompanying drawings, where:-l III-*r- Figurel 1is a@ plan view ofl a platform scale-f constructed? in accordance with thisinfy ventiorr,A pants being' broken; awa-y forV clear-1 ness of disclosure;

Fig. 21,. isa longitudinal verticall section throu l1 Fig;y 1,. approximately on the line- 2i-2 t e1-eef;

Fig.. 3-, ie a fragmentary4 section. approxi.-v mately on the irregulari line 3 3I of Figc 1-, showing asuspension from; one of'thef main levers;

Fig. 4', is a vertical section! taken.'approxi'-l maitelyf on. the line of Fig; 3,. and:l

Figs. 5 and 6 are detailfviewsof; thebearing plate..

Referring now tothe drawing for a de:- tailed description of' the embodiment of. the invention. there shown',L thev scale comprises ai base: frame 5% preferably.A provided with trucks. 6; for rendering the scalev easily porta-ble.-4 A load receiving platform is supported'to liein aplaneabove the base frame member, andy adjacent the forwardv end thereof'is an upstanding column 8 for housing the: load transmitting rod, and other operating parts of the scale, and for supporting the weigh-beam of: the scale (not shown).

rlfhe main scale levers 9, 10- are mounted in the base frame member, being preferably of cast metal,- and having longitudinallyI inclined., sidemembers and' transverse connection membersthcrefor. The side members at the outer ends thereof merge into parallel extensions 1l, 12 towhich the main orA corner supporting bearings 13 are connected. The-main. levers extend from t-lie main bearings 13 toward each other, the sides. cone verging and the levers meeting near the center of the base` frame member, Where spaced:Y parallel frame members 14 are pro vided. im the lever 9,. and similar opposed spacedparallel frame members 15= are pro.- vided in lever, I0. These spaced parallel members 14 and 15 provide opposed walls for thesupport of pivot bearings 16, for the center Vconnection of the levers. The pivot bearings 16 are supported at both endsin the opposed walls, providingl a secure `and rigid support and preventing'bending or other displacement incident to severe usage, or to other causes. The lever is provided, beyond the center connection, with an extension 17, for transmitting the weighing stresses through the connected transmission rod 18 to the weigh-beam (not shown). As will be seen in Fig. 2, Lthe platform is supported by blocks 19 carried on knife edge bearings 2() on the main scale levers.

The main or corner bearings 13 for the main'levers are preferably' of similar construction, and are of special improved design, permitting easy assemly, or disassembly, and moreover being adapted to assume proper alignment when assembled, and to retain such alignment under wear and severe service conditions. p j f As shown in Fig. 3,' this bearing .comprises lugs 21, preferably formed integrally with the base frame member, and having spaced supporting parts providing an opening therebetween for the reception of the bearing Vlink'or loop 22.` The loop is supported on the lug 21 by means of a pin 23,having a laterally projecting part for engagement in an opening inthe lug to hold the pin inv position. A depression 24 in the upper face of the lug 21 provides a seat to further 'insure the retention of the pin in proper supporting position.

The supporting pin is preferably provided with a depression 25 in its upper face, centered with the link receiving opening, and adapted for the reception of the link to insure proper positioning thereof. The loop :is preferably provided with a bearing plate 26 seated therein and adapted to engage with a pivot bearing 27 suitably supported 'n the extension 11 of the lever.v j The bearing plate 26 Vis loosely seated in the link, and is substantially V-shaped in end elevation, forming an angular seat for the pivot bearing 27. The bearing plate is seated in aV correspondingly shaped 'seat formed in 'the supporting link, being secured in position by lugs 28 overlying the plate and formed integral with the loop 22. If so desired the lugs are struck up from the loop after the bearing plate is placed in position.

As shown, the bearing plate is, notchedat the sides thereof, as indicated at 29, for the reception of the sides of the loop adjacent the bearing seat, so as to prevent the `bearing plate from sliding longitudinally-out of its seat. The notches 29 are wide enough so the edges thereof engage loosely with the Asidesof the link and the retaining lugs 28 are spaced sufficiently above the edge of the parts thereof bearing plate to permit freedom of rocking movement, so the plate automatically adjustsitself to the proper position for contacting with the pivot pin. In this manner the bearing is self-compensating and Vwill always be properly aligned irrespective of inaccuracies in the proportion of parts and assembly thereof, and this alignment will be retained irrespective of severe usage or wear. The seat Vof the bearing plate in the loop being quite narrow readily permits slight rocking movements of the bearing therein. j

An inexpensive and convenient method of producing the bearing above described has been devised, being substantially as fol-` lows z-Bars ofl steel of substantially the cross-sectional shape of the bearing, that is, in the embodiment shown, substantially V- shaped, are provided, and lengths are cut therefrom Vcorresponding to the bearing length desired. These severallengths are then punched at the lateral edges thereof to provide the notches 29, and the angular or V-shapedbearing surface may be smoothed or otherwise conditioned as by grinding. The plate as thus formed is placed in its supporting seat, as in the seat rovided in the loop .22, and the integral lugs 28 then struck up from the adjacent metal, as by punching together the vmetal at the opposite sides of the loop, with an'` appropriate tool, or by punching.

The center connection or suspension for the main scale levers lis preferably con-j structed in such a way as to permit it to be readily placed in position or removed, and to be locked in position when the scale is sealedy orV adjusted for correct weighing. As shown, this connection preferably comprises a connecting link having an opening for the reception of the self-compensating bearing plates 31, for pivotal engagement withthe pivot bearings 16, which are anchored in the leve-rs 9 and 10 as above 110 described. The link is provided withV an open side, forming a passageway to the interior opening, whereby the link is placed in operative position or removed.` This Ypassageway may be closed locking plate 32.v

'An improved checking arrangement is provided whereby the main scale levers and load receiving' platform are held in properly centered position. checking system preferably includes check :lugs 33 at the oppositerends of the base frame, each having two spaced vertically disposed openings therein, these lugs preferably being formed base frame. v

Similarly formed check lugs 134, preferably four in number, disposed on the four sides of the platform, are spaced from the integrally withthe 12 by a sheet metal As shown, this lugs 33, having also vertically disposed openings therein. The lugs 33 lie approximately in the same horizontal plane with the corresponding lugs 34. Check rods 35 are provided with a-ngularly disposed projections 36 for reception in the vertical openings of the check lugs. lVhen the check rods are assembled with the spaced projections 36 seated inthe corresponding check lugs, as shown in Fig. l, the platform and main scale levers will be checked in correctly centered position in all directions.

From the foregoing it lwill be seen that assembly or disassembly of the various elements is provided for and repair and replacement of the parts facilitated.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing' from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter or language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a scale, the combination with spaced supporting parts, and a scale lever adapted to be supported from said parts, of supporting links for said lever, and detachable pins spanning the spaced parts for supporting the links.

2. In a scale, the combination with supporting parts, including a lug having an aperture formed therein, and a scale lever adapted to be supported from said parts, of supporting links for said lever, and a supporting pin for each link, said pin resting on said spaced parts and having an angularly disposed projection extending into said aperture.

3. In a scale, the combination With spaced supporting parts, and a scale lever adapted to be supported from said parts, of supporting links for-said lever, and a supporting pin for each link, said pin resting on said spaced parts and having a depression in the upper part thereof for the reception of said link.

et. In a scale, the combination with spaced supporting parts, including a lug having an aperture formed therein, and a scale lever adapted to be supported from said parts, of supporting links for said lever, and a supspaced porting pin for each link, resting on said spaced parts, .aid pin having an angularly disposed projection extending in said aperture, and a depression in the upper part thereof for the reception of said link.

5. In a scale, the combination with a base frame having a lug provided with an aperture, anda scale lever, of a supporting link for said scale lever, and a supporting pin for said link, said pin having an angularly disposed projection extending into said aperture.

6. In a scale, the combination with a base frame, supporting lugs on said frame having spaced supporting parts and apertures formed in said lugs, and a. scale lever, of supporting links for said lever, each link having pivotal connection with said lever and extending between said spaced supporting parts, and a supporting pin for each of said links, said pin resting on said spaced parts and having an angularly disposed projection extending into said aperture.

T. In a scale, the combination with a base frame, supporting lugs on said frame having spaced supporting parts, and apertures formed in said lugs, and a scale lever, of supporting links for said lever, each link having a compensating bearing providing for a pivotal connection with said lever, said links extending between said spaced supporting parts, and a supporting pin for each of said links, said pin resting on said spaced parts and having an angularly disposed projection extending into the said aperture.

8. In a scale, the combination with a base frame, supporting lugs on said frame having spaced supporting parts and an aperture formed in said lugs, and a scale lever, of supporting links for said lever, each link having a compensating bearing providing for a pivotal connection with said lever, said links extending between said spaced supporting parts, and a supporting pin for each of said links, said pin resting on said spaced parts and having a depression in the upper part thereof for the reception of said link, and an angularly disposed projection extending into the said aperture.

9. In a scale, the combination with spaced supporting parts, and a scale lever adapted to be supported from saidl spaced parts, of supporting links for said lever, each having a compensating `bearing providing a pivotal connection with said lever, and a supporting pin for said link.

In testimony whereof I hereunto sign my name. i

FRANK E. CHURCH. 

